Shower Curtain For Extended Space

ABSTRACT

A shower curtain with flexible boning used in connection with a shower rod and hooks. The shower rod is placed outward from the shower space. The curtain is attached to the hook and to the rod or directly to the rod. The flexible boning is aligned with the tub or shower surrounding. The bottom of the curtain is placed inside the tub or shower surrounding. The configuration increases lateral or horizontal shower space.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/987,954, having a filing date of Mar. 11, 2020, entitled Shower Curtain for Extended Space. The entire contents therein are incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to a shower curtain or liner with extension components to increase the horizontal occupancy space inside a bathtub or shower space. The curtain contains flexible boning to conform to the side of a bathtub or shower space.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Bathroom renovations are one of the most expensive renovations that can be done. Bathroom renovations are desirable to update and to increase usable space. Many bathrooms contain bathtubs or small shower spaces. Bathtubs may have a traditional linear rectangular shape or may be a garden tub style with a rounded shape. The rounded shape provides a larger shower space than the traditional rectangular shape. Shower stalls are also traditionally a narrow square or rectangular shape.

The problem with most of the traditional bathing spaces is a lack of lateral or horizontal space. In particular, elbow space is limited. A person is unable to extend both elbows outward without either hitting a wall, shower door, or shower curtain.

Shower doors do not allow for increased lateral shower space. Shower curtains may be connected to a curved shower rods to increase space when pared with a garden tub. However, curved shower rods only increase the space at the top while the shower curtain still intrudes on the elbow room in the shower space.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

What is needed is a shower curtain that provides for an extended shower space. The curtain may be provided for in a kit with interchangeable parts. The core components include a curtain and flexible boning. The curtain is combined with a shower rod and shower curtain hooks to hold the shower curtain onto the rod. The rod is moved outward from the shower space. The curtain with flexible boning is attached to the curtain hooks and then attached to the rod. The flexible boning can be built in or be removable. The curtain can also be paired with pockets or fasteners in other embodiments. The shower space is extended and provides more elbow room.

In one embodiment, the shower curtain has a single or a plurality of vertically aligned flexible boning extruded within the shower curtain material. In another embodiment, the shower curtain has a single or a plurality of horizontally aligned flexible boning extruded within the shower curtain material.

In one embodiment, the shower curtain has a single or a plurality of vertically aligned flexible boning encapsulated in a pocket having a pocket interior and a pocket opening. In another embodiment, the shower curtain has a single or a plurality of horizontally aligned flexible boning encapsulated in a pocket having a pocket interior and a pocket opening.

Increased shower interior space is provided by positioning the top edge of the shower curtain containing flexible boning between 2 inches and three feet away from the shower space side and securing the top edge of the shower curtain to either a ceiling or a wall or to a shower curtain rod with a traditional attachment piece such as a hook. The bottom edge is positioned inside the shower space. The boning is bent to contour the shower ledge and along the shower space side. In some methods, the right edge or the left edge are fastened to a shower space or to a wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings that are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification illustrate several embodiments of the disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a shower curtain with flexible boning, rod, and hooks, providing extended shower space.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a shower curtain with fasteners.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a shower curtain with pockets and removable flexible boning.

FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of an exemplary shower curtain with boning and pockets and having two layers.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of an exemplary shower curtain with boning and pockets having two layers joined with a seam.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of an exemplary shower curtain with a horizontal pocket and a horizontal boning structure.

NUMERALS OF THE FIGS

-   -   1 curtain     -   3 hook     -   6 rod     -   9 first side     -   12 boning     -   15 shower space     -   18 shower edge     -   21 bottom edge     -   24 shower space side     -   27 top edge     -   30 right edge     -   33 left edge     -   36 fastener     -   39 pocket     -   42 pocket interior     -   45 pocket opening     -   48 pocket exterior     -   51 pocket closer     -   54 second side     -   55 seam

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure provides generally for methods and apparatuses for a shower curtain that provides extended shower space. Specifically, increased lateral or horizontal elbow room is provided. The shower curtain may have boning fixedly attached within an extruded synthetic material or may be bonded between two curtain layers. Alternatively, the boning may be encapsulated in a pocket having a pocket exterior, a pocket interior, a pocket opening, and a pocket closer. The shower curtain top edge is positioned away from the shower space, and the shower curtain bottom edge is positioned into the shower space with the boning bent to accommodate and contour a shower ledge and leading the curtain along with shower space side.

In the following sections, detailed descriptions of examples and methods of the disclosure will be given. The descriptions of both preferred and alternative examples are exemplary only, and it is understood that to those skilled in the art that variations, modifications, and alterations may be apparent. It is therefore to be understood that the examples do not limit the broadness of the aspects of the underlying disclosure as defined by the claims.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of a shower curtain with flexible boning, rod, and hooks, providing extended shower space is shown. The exemplary shower curtain comprises a sheath or curtain. The sheath or curtain may have a single layer or multiple layers. Flexible boning in any shape and size can be sewn, glued, or otherwise built into the sheath or curtain. Flexible boning can be moldable and re-positionable metal such as stainless steel, spring steel, or may be a synthetic material such as polyester, silicone, aluminum, or any other commercially suitable material in a preferably linear configuration to accommodate contouring over a shower ledge. Nevertheless, flexible plates are contemplated as well. The flexible boning provides structure near the bottom of the curtain.

The curtain is attached to a curtain rod, with or without hooks in preferred embodiments. However, the curtain may be attached directly to a wall or ceiling, negating the need for a shower curtain rod. The curtain rod, typically a tension rod, is placed outward from the shower space or tub surrounding. The curtain bottom is placed inside the tub surrounding or shower space.

The boning is bent to conform to the ledge of the shower surround or tub surround and may be bent at an approximate 90-degree angle. However, other angles are contemplated, and the boning may be bent multiple times to form a double sigmoid configuration. For example, angles from 10-170 degrees are possible depending on the length, ledge, and shower space structure, and how far the shower curtain top edge is positioned from the shower space. The Elbow room is increased while the shower curtain still catches water droplets that will fall into the tub or shower floor.

Referring now to FIG. 2, an exemplary embodiment of a shower curtain with fasteners is shown. Fasteners may include magnets, hooks, snaps, suction cups, or any other apparatus having the ability to attach the curtain to the interior of the shower or tub surround. The fasteners can be implemented on the bottom or on the sides such as the right edge and left edge of the curtain. The fasteners can be combinations of types such as magnets on the bottom to attach to the tub surrounding and suction cups on the side to attach to the shower or tub surround wall.

Referring now to FIG. 3, an exemplary embodiment of a shower curtain with pockets and removable flexible boning is shown. Pockets may be included in the shower curtain and may be sealable or may be open or may have a flap to close. The pockets can accommodate removable and interchangeable flexible boning. However, in some exemplary embodiments, pockets may be added for storage purposes to hold loofahs, washcloths, razors, and other accessories. Pockets have a pocket interior to accommodate flexible boning.

Referring now to FIG. 4, an exploded view of an exemplary shower curtain with boning and pockets and having two layers is shown. In this example, a first side and a second side of two curtains are joined together. Where the boning is fixedly attached to the curtain, the boning is sandwiched between the two curtains. Where the boning is removably attached, the boning is encapsulated in pockets. The pockets may face toward the shower interior space or may face away from the shower interior space.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a perspective view of an exemplary shower curtain with boning and pockets having two layers joined with a seam is shown. In this embodiment, the boning is sandwiched and extruded between two layers of curtains and sealed together with a seam. The seam may be sewing or an adhesive that prevents water intrusion. The seam prevails along the top, right, left, and bottom edges. In some embodiments, the two curtains are sealed to form a single curtain.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a perspective view of an exemplary shower curtain with a horizontal pocket and a horizontal boning structure is shown. This exemplary embodiment demonstrates a single pocket and a single boning structure configured horizontally. One or a plurality of boning structures and pockets may be implemented and integrated with the shower curtain.

CONCLUSION

A number of embodiments of the present disclosure have been described. While this specification contains many specific implementation details, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any disclosures or of what may be claimed. The exemplary embodiments in the detailed description and the figures serve as descriptions of features specific to particular embodiments of the present disclosure.

Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in combination in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

Thus, particular embodiments of the subject matter have been described. Other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A shower curtain for increasing shower space, the curtain comprising a first side, a second side, a bottom edge, a top edge, a right edge, a left edge, and flexible boning.
 2. The shower curtain of claim 1 further comprising shower rod hooks.
 3. The shower curtain of claim 1 further comprising a fastener.
 4. The shower curtain of claim 3 where in the fastener includes a magnet, a hook, a snap, or a suction cup.
 5. The shower curtain of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of pockets to accommodate flexible boning.
 6. The shower curtain of claim 1 wherein the flexible boning is fixedly attached and built in to the shower curtain structure.
 7. The shower curtain of claim 1 wherein the flexible boning is arranged vertically.
 8. The shower curtain of claim 1 wherein the flexible boning is arranged horizontally.
 9. The shower curtain of claim 7 wherein the flexible boning is encapsulated in a pocket.
 10. The shower curtain of claim 8 wherein the flexible boning is encapsulated in a pocket.
 11. The shower curtain of claim 1 wherein the flexible boning is positioned to contour a shower ledge in a sigmoid configuration.
 12. The shower curtain of claim 1 wherein the flexible boning is positioned to contour a shower ledge in a double sigmoid configuration.
 13. A method of increasing lateral shower space in a bathtub or in a shower stall with the shower curtain of claim 1, the method steps comprising obtaining the shower curtain of claim 1, attaching the curtain to a shower rod, placing the shower rod outward from the tub surrounding, placing the curtain inside the tub, bending the flexible boning to create a 90-degree angle or along the tub surround surface.
 14. The method steps of claim 13 further comprising attaching the shower curtain to shower rod hooks.
 15. The method steps of claim 13 further comprising attaching the shower curtain to the tub surround and to the wall with fasteners. 